How to avoid double subjects in English

Infographic explaining how to avoid double subjects in English, with examples of incorrect and correct sentences using noun and -ing phrase subjects.

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A double subject is a common grammar mistake that happens when the subject of a sentence is repeated unnecessarily — usually by using both a noun and a pronoun.

Check these incorrect sentences:

My brother and my cousin they never listen.
The worst part of the exam it’s speaking.

The problem with these sentences is that they repeat the subject. In the first sentence, My brother and my cousin is the subject of the verb listen, and they is another subject referring to the same people. In the second sentence, the same thing happens: The worst part of the exam is the subject, and it is also a subject. Each sentence should have only one subject.

Here are the correct versions:

My brother and my cousin never listen.
They never listen.
The worst part of the exam is speaking.
It’s speaking.

Tip: Only one subject is needed! If you start a sentence with a noun or an -ing verb, don’t add a pronoun after it. Here are more examples of double subject mistakes:

Running every day it helps me relax.
Running every day helps me relax.
It helps me relax.
One of my best friends she lives in London.
One of my best friends lives in London.
She lives in London.
This new movie it’s very boring.
This new movie is very boring.
It’s very boring.
All the children at the party they were playing outside.
All the children at the party were playing outside.
They were playing outside.
My phone it doesn’t work.
My phone doesn’t work.
It doesn’t work.

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